Device for controlling fluid flow



March 4, 1952 r R MA VIN 2,588,137

DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING FLUID FLOW Filed March 10, 1947 i Patented Mar. 4, 1952 UNITED, STATES PATENT 02F Rice DEVZCEFORCONTROLLING FLUIDFLQW:

hi ervi s ii steass gner o, Milwaukeeqas Specialty Company, Milwaukee, v i a 9rn tat onv of sconsin.

ApplieationMal'chlO, 1947, SeriaLNo. 73.335931 laims-e (01.,137-139);

Thie inv n n re ete i gene a o per e e r n ll ne uid, flew n. du t nd has particular relation to. an improved burner control valve. A

While the particular apparatus which I shall describe hereinafter in connection with the drawing; is in general, of the type, in which the valve is ;controlled by an electromagnet connect- G1 in i it w h. a; e lee r gene ato .1 t ae herm eeup rrm p er t s: o be understood that the -valve is, not limited to this particular; use but may, within the broader aspects-of the invention be controlled thermostatioally or o therwise as suitable ordesired,

Onepf the main o bjectsof the present, inventiQli; is: to provide; an improved formof valve which will operatequickly and in a positive manner and infwhich an auxiliary valveoperable y: xte n l 1 eans. on o s umulat ve t e e sure differential on opposite sides, of a main valve member, whereby the main valve member isactuatedv oep n: r l d osi ions by he Rressu o th ui n he vccine i l t Anothe b c of he invention is to. provide in a valve of the character: described; a new n impre mb i n of inendemsifiary valve members in-whichthe 'by pass pert under the control of uthe; auxiliary valve member is vforrned through, the main valve member, and in which theauxiliary valve. member cooperates with he mai evalve, m mber eelese nel er-t ended rect t w eh h ain. alve m m e e ts n; ts lve e wher b he ei x .l ..er-yva ve memb r seis st r ay; ss t, them v n nt th e n el me er eeleees position,

, Anotherobject of .the invention is to provide an improved combination of main and auxiliaryyalve ember n which a ar lv member, in its -qm'ovement to closed position, not. only assi -v in moving t e, ma l em mber, o closed positionbut, $ists in holding. it in closed p eitionw e e y teainta tpos t e o u e i the-main valvewithout relying entirely on the dropping of, themain valve member to closed Pee iem.

Another object of theiinvention is to provide an improved; combination of; main and auxiliary valveimenibers, in which the -main and auxiliary elyemembere:andh he. by-pass por under he control of; the auxiliary; valve member arev concentricelly; disposed ;-to ,previde a structure which eempei t nd fieet r ein e l ei eta i: heinveet -t r de emew, end-immers d." een, .in tim tv ofa --valve of the character set fort-r1, withan elegtromagnet mee d in cu t h ethermeeleetrie l e e whereby roug ee ns riime t ityi' h elat vely, minu rm e ee i A. M}, E- e eted;e r eu eat. i a le bt,.. retiiet flame: on. he meel e ri enerato theatre valve m en en v there ,.nl .i valve m r y e i ue e h v m e e it eti t9 n th r ;v m eert eu ar m. rem. e eeed msifienteewn pos on Ano h r ebi o h nve tien t e tevie ent trev i enn. f l etrem tet: nd mere Part cul rly, an 7 leet mee e ha n up.- sh i ti. ma n t eme or oo e ation. itIi.-. a valve member nd W112? ert enle lm with an ux li r valve mber. oi e h rac er. dee ritesii i a, anne e act ate he. e t e item closed position to open position through the lletrumen el t 5 he. elat vel .W utethe m l /tie E, M- en ra e by, the eet oip lot light r other, ame n h the eiele pv genr t r:

F the b t nd edv nteeee. J he nil S l}? tion will be apparent frornthe following detailed deee inti h ak n nv onn ene ittiithe cempe iy neidraw e in vwhi Fi ure 1, s a. on tudinal i more or. es i met e et en t r u h .a alv .embody pe e nv i n and nowinel e main. plenta yv valv memb nele ed; ee ieii a d; h meele tr e enera r NP iQIL 9 e .1. 11- ee ed to e heat of e i et flame nd e n ee n c cuit, w th, t the. e eet emaet eti at t e. elv and Fi ure s. enfte rmentery e i iti siinel' 1 9 r r. lee d eelr mmeti feeetiet ehqw t e. e m fiedeierin o alv Re er i v new 9.v ur 1 l tl w n the burnershown' at lis a main burner. It may bethe main burner for a roomor space heater, or it may bethe burner-fora water heater or fora floor-furnace,- an oven burner,- one or more top-burnersfor-agas. range, or any other burner, and of any suitableconstruction.

A- fuel: supply pipe or conduit 2; leads toe the burner l r. for: the delivery: of. gaseous or: other fuel theretQ,-. for? example; throu h. a m xin 3 pilot supply pipe I may be connected, for example, to the pipe 2 anterior of the valve 4, or through this valve, or, in some cases, posterior of the valve member within the body of the valve 4, or to any other source of fuel supply.

The valve 4 comprises a valve body having an inlet ll and an outlet l2. Contiguous sections of the fuel pipe 2 are connected to the inlet H and outlet l2, for example, by screwing them into the inlet and outlet which are shown as internally threaded. Internally the valve body I0 is provided with a generally L-shaped outlet chamber l3 having a longitudinally extending part in open communication with the outlet 12, and a transversely extending portion defined by a cylindrical wall M. The wall l4 terminates in an annular valve seat l5. An inlet chamber H5, in open communication with the inlet ll, terminates at its inner end in an annular shaped portion which embraces the cylindrical wall i l of the outlet chamber. r

A pressure-accumulating chamber l8 of circular or other configuration is provided in the valve body l0 above and concentric with the valve seat l5, and is of a diameter substantially equal to that of the adjacent portion of the inlet chamber and greater than the outside diameter of the valve seat l5. A main or primary valve 20 of disc-like form is adapted to seat against the valve seat l5. The valve 20 is adapted to extend beyond the marginal edges of the seat within the confines of the pressure chamber l8 and may conform to the general shape of the pressure chamber, but is of slightly lesser diameter, thus providing a relatively small clearance gap 2l between the outer marginal edge of the valve and the inner periphery of the wall of the pressure chamber.

A cover 22 for the valve body It) is maintained in assembled relation thereto, for example, by screws 23, and provides a closure for the outer end of the pressure chamber I8. A gasket 24 may be provided to make the joint between the valve body In and the cover 22 fluid-tight.

A by-pass port 25 is formed through the valve .20, for example, concentrically thereof, as shown in the drawing. The port 25 is under the control of an auxiliary valve 26 of disc-like form. The I auxiliary valve 26 operates directly in the chamber l8 and cooperates with the main valve 20 to close the port 25 in the direction in which the .main valve 20 seats on its valve seat l5. In this way the movement of the auxiliary valve 26 to closed position seats against the main valve 20,

and thereby assists the movement of the main valve to closed position, and in maintaining positive closure of the main valve member without relying entirely on the dropping of the main valve member to closed position. The auxiliary -valve 26 may be prevented from displacement laterally to position uncovering the port 25, for example, by guide pins 46 on the main valve 20.

The foregoing advantages are not accomplished where the auxiliary valve does not seat against the main valve, for example, where the auxiliary valve is spaced laterally of the main valve. The

structure described also eliminates the necessity of a laterally spaced by-pass port in the valve body, and the necessity of a conduit or passage leading from the chamber l8 to such a port. Moreover, the structure described makes it possible to provide an improved and more compact relation between the auxiliary valve 'and the operating means therefor, and eliminates the or less diagrammatically in Figure 2.

necessity of levers or the like extending laterally to such a laterally disposed auxiliary valve.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the means for operating the auxiliary valve 26, and, more particularly, the means for actuating this valve to open position, is shown in the form of an electromagnet comprising a magnet frame 28 having its coil 29 connected by lead conductors 30 in circuit with a thermocouple 3|. The thermocouple 3| and lead connections therefor may be of the general character disclosed and claimed in Oscar J. Leins Patent No. 2,126,564, granted August 9, 1938, or it may be of any other suitable character, or in the form of a thermopile or other thermoelectric generator. The thermoelectric generator has one or more hot junctions, for example the hot junction 32, which is placed in position to be heated by the flame 33 of a burner, such as the pilot burner 5.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention,

the magnet frame 28 is shown of cup-shaped form having an annular groove 34 forming at the axis of the magnet frame, which may be of cylindrical form, a cylindrical stem part 35. The coil 29 is wound around the stem part 35 and is disposed within the groove 34. This provides an advantageous form of electromagnet which is adapted for drawing the auxiliary valve 26 to its open or attracted position, shown in dotted lines, by the relatively weak thermoelectric E. M. F. generated by the heat of the flame 33 on the hot junction 32 of the thermocouple.

In Figure 1 the magnet frame 28 is shown held to the cover 22 by means of a bracket 36 secured in place by a screw 31. Suitable cementing material may be provided at 38. These features may, of course, vary widely, and it is to be understood that the auxiliary valve 26 may, within the broader aspects of the invention, be controlled thermostatically or otherwise as desired,'instead of thermoelectrically as shown and described.

While the auxiliary valve 26 of the illustrated embodiment of the invention operates to retracted or closed position by gravity, it is to be understood that a relatively weak coiled spring or the like may be provided for moving or assisting the movement of the valve 26 to closed position when the pilot flame 33 is extinguished.

It is also to be understood that the gas in the compartment l8 may be maintained out of contact with the electromagnet, for example by a partition 40, as shown fragmentarily and more In such case the auxiliary valve member 26, which corresponds with the auxiliary valve member 26 of the preceding embodiment of the invention, instead of constituting also the armature for the electromagnet, may be connected by a stem 4| with an armature 42 within the sealed compartment 43, and the opening in the partition 40 through which the stem 4| operates slidingly may be provided with suitable packing (not shown) to prevent gas leakage therethrough.

When the auxiliary valve member 26 moves to position closing the port 25, for example, upon being released by the electro-magnet when the pilot flame is extinguished, the momentum of the flow of fluid through the inlet chamber [6 and upwardly toward the valve member 20 causes a momentary continuation of fluid flow through the gap 2| between the valve member 20 and the walls of the pressure chamber I8. Since the outlet port 25 is now closed, this produces a sudden increase in static pressure in the pressure chamber I8 above the valve 20. This assess? disrupts the? previous: relation: of forces acting upon thesvalve 20; andcreates-adifferentialgin favorpf'the .forcesabovegthe valve 20.,

Thexvalve .20; therefore'not only moves toward seated position on its seat. l5, but .this movement is: assisted. by the cooperation of the auxiliary valvei'member26 with: themain valve member 20: As thezmovement of the valve 29' to. closed positionitakes place, thevalve 20 cuts off a D01:-

tion1of1the'former flow of fiUid'iIltOl the outlet chamber I3.v The momentum of fluidin the line beyond the outlet port produces a" momentary reduction'of static pressure in the outlet chamber 13, which further unbalances the forces formerly maintaining'the valve 20 in open position; Thus; the --valve 20isurged toward a seated position with a progressively increasing differential of forces and is finally impelled against the valve seat IS with a positive snap-like action whichis augmented by the action of the auxiliar'y' valve member 26 on the main valve member 20': Oncethe main valve 20 is in closed position, the static fluid pressure on the inlet side thereof operates against the upper surface of the valve member 20 and auxiliary valve member 26to maintainthe valve member 20 in a seated position. The auxiliary-valve member 26 also acts to'maintain-positive closure'of the main valve 20 withut' relying entirely on the dropping or movement of the mainvalvemember to closed position.

When the pilot burner 5 is ignited, the heat of the pilot flame 33 on the hot junction of the thermocouple sets up a flow of thermoelectric current through the "coil 29 of the electro magnet; This energizes the'electromagnet sufiiciently to draw the auxiliary valve member to attracted or open position as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1. The fluid in the pressure chamber l8 then seeks, through the port 25, an even pressure with that of the outlet chamber I3. Due to the fact that the gap 2| between the valve and the adjacent walls of the pressure chamber I8 is restricted in sectional area, fluid moves through the port into the outlet chamber at a greater rate than that of incoming fluid through the gap 2 l. Thus the pressure against the upper surface of the valve 20 is relieved, and since a flow of fluid is now taking place through the inlet chamber l6 toward and around the valve 20, 7-.

a dynamic or impingement pressure against the under side of the valve 20 is added to the inlet static pressure, thus overcoming the reduced pressure against the upper side of the valve 20 and the auxiliary valve 26 thereon, and causing the valve 20 to move away from the seat 15.

As the volume of fluid flow through the device increases, the dynamic pressure against the under side of the valve being a function of the fluid velocity likewise increases and causes the valve 20 to move away from the valve seat l5 to a position allowing full flow of fluid through the device. The open position of the valve 20 is shown in dotted lines in Figure 1. The valve, when in open position presents no material restriction to the flow of fluid therethrough and causes no undesirable pressure drop by reason of its presence in the line.

The port 25 through the first valve disc 20 is of a size so that when the auxiliary valve disc 26 is open the gas will flow out through the port 25 from the pressure chamber I8 to the outlet chamber 13 faster than it will flow from the inlet chamber IB into the pressure chamber I 8 around the periphery of the valve disc 20. The

annular area of' the bottomiportion of the first valve disc 29 whichextends peripherally beyond valve 'seat [5 is exposed to the pressure in the inlet chamber-I6, and of such character'when the auxiliary'valve disc 26 isopen the upward forces will over-balance the downward forces, with a resulting opening of the first valve disc 20. When the second valve disc 26 is closed against the first valve disc 20, the downward forceson valve discs 20 and26 over-balance the upward forces on the peripheral extension of valve disc 20 beyond valve seat [5, with a result-'- ing closing of the firstvalve disc 20.

Whenever thevalve disc 26 is actuated to open position and held in'open position by energizaxtion of the electromagnet, the action of themes.- sure :of the gas in the inlet chamber against the annular area of the bottom portion of the valve diSC120, -Whl0h extends peripherally beyond the valve seat l5, exceeds the tendency of the action ofthe pressure in the pressure chamber l8 to seat the valve disc 20 and actuates the valve 'disc 20 toopen position. It is immaterial whether the valve disc. 20 is heldin some intermediate position or moves to its upper limit. In any eventr-thevalve disc'2B will at this time be held attracted'to the electromagnet, and the forces holding the, valve disc 20 in open position will exceed'any forces tending to close the valve disc 20. Moreover, the guide pins 46 on the valve .disc2fl may, by "cooperation with theelectromagnet whenthevaluedisc. 20 is in itsuppermost position with the valve disc'26 in attracted position, provide a space between the valve discs 20" and 26;

However, upon deenergization of the: electromagnet, the valve disc 26 moves to position seating upon the valve disc 20 and closing the port 25. The downward forces on the valve discs 20 and 26 presented by the gas pressure in the pressure chamber l8 and, for example, the weight of the valve discs, or by the action of a spring as previously set forth, now exceed the forces tending to hold the valve disc 20 open, and this valve disc 20 moves to closed position seating upon the valve seat IS.

The embodiments of the invention shown in the drawing are for illustrative purposes only, and it is to be expressly understood that said drawing and the accompanying specification are not to be construed as a definition of the limits or scope of the invention, reference being had to the appended claims for that purpose.

I claim:

1. In a gaseous fuel control valve, in combination, a valve body having an outlet port surrounded by a valve seat and communicating with an outlet chamber, a first thin, light weight disc valve of planar form adapted to seat upon said valve seat, said valve body having an inlet chamber on the same side of said first valve disc as said outlet port and said outlet chamber, said valve body having a static fluid pressure chamber in communication with said inlet chamber and disposed adjacent said valve seat, said static fluid pressure chamber being disposed on the opposite side of said first valve disc, said first valve disc extending peripherally beyond said valve seat and over said inlet chamber whereby fluid entering said inlet chamber is adapted to act directly against the peripheral extension of said first valve disc, said first valve disc having an outer diameter slightly less than the inner diameter of the adjacent portion of said pressure chamber to provide only restricted communicatlon between said inlet chamber and said pressure chamber around the periphery of said first valve disc, said first valve disc having a port opening: therethrough from said pressure chamber to said outlet chamber, a second thin light weight jdisc valve of planar form disposed in said pressure chamber and adapted to seat upon said first valve disc to close said port, the port through said first valve disc being of a size for the flow of gas out therethrough from said pressure chamber to said outlet chamber faster than it will fiow into the pressure chamber around the periphery of said first valve disc when said second valve disc is unseated and the annular meant the first valve disc which is exposed to the pressure in the inlet chamber being of such character that the upward forces will overbalance the downward forces when the second valve disc is unseated with a resulting unseating of said first valve disc, the downward forces on the first and second valve discs when the second valve disc is seated overbalancing the upward forces with a resulting seating of said first valve disc/and means for unseating said second valve disc.

2. A valve according to claim 1 wherein there is means on said first valve disc which cooperates with said second valve disc to prevent undue lateral displacement of said second valve disc relative to said first val ve disc.

3. A fluid valve according to claim 1 wherein there is projecting means on said first valve disc cooperating with the outer periphery of said second valve disc to prevent undue lateral displace? ment of said second valve disc relative to said first valve disc.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 599,462 Van Schaik Feb. 22, 1896 1,707,541 Roth Apr. 2, 1929 1,807,191 Boyle May 26, 1931 2,020,833 Hansen Nov. 12, 1935 2,138,792 Kronmiller Nov. 29, 1938 2,160,117 Borresen May 30, 1939 2,303,066 Ray Nov. 24, 1942 2,305,151 Fields Dec. 15, 1942 2,353,759 Ray July 18, 1944 2,368,850 Lange Feb. 6, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 10,978 Great Britain Aug. 11, 1903 20,553 Great Britain of 1902 325,185 France Nov. 29, 1938 

